The High Court in Accra has again granted a week-long grace period to former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, (GNPC), Alex Mould and Gavivina Tamakloe, to produce Mrs Sedinam Attionu Tamakloe.
Today’s (Tuesday, January 17) adjournment was to allow lawyers of the accused and sureties to authenticate a document they have on the accused which the court is not authentic because it was not notarized.
The Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe while wondering about the legal effect of the document asked “how does this solve a legal purpose?”
The court said the document in its current form does not work for it to be part of a record as to whether the recognizance has been forfeited.
Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for the accused (Sedinam Tamakloe) and Dr Aziz Basit Bamba for second surety prayed for an adjournment but the prosecution led by Stella Ohene Appiah, a Principal State Attorney opposed the request and questioned its authenticity.
Justice Asare-Botwe, now a Justice of the Court of Appeal after listening to the parties adjourned the case to January 24 for the lawyers to authenticate the document.
Mrs Tamakloe Ationu has been absent from court for the last two legal years since 2021.
The two sureties who executed the GHc5M bail conditions for the former CEO of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) were first ordered to produce the accused on December 22, 2022.
The Financial and Economic Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, now elevated to the Court of Appeal who held that the former MASLOC boss has “absconded,” extended the period to January 17.
But in court on Tuesday, January 17, the parties were given a week more period.
At the last court sitting on December 22, Lawyer for the first surety Lawyer Beatrice Annan-Fio, for Gavivina Tamakloe said “We have exhausted every effort within our means but we have not been able to produce the first accused person.”
She, therefore, prayed the court to allow them more time to be able to produce the accused who is said to have undergone some medical procedure.
Lawyer Dr Abdul Basit Bamba and Lawyer Agbesi Dzakpasu, counsel for Alex Mould and Accused respectively added their voices for more time.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who was one of 15 newly sworn-in Justices of the Court of Appeal by the President, said “I will give you time.”
While making a biblical allusion she said the Bible calls for fulfilment of righteousness and that “I can only give you time after the Christmas.”
The newly promoted Justice of the Court of Appeal said “You have until the holidays are over to produce the accused or provide a compelling evidence why you need more time to produce the accused.”
Daniel Axim, the second accused person was present in court.
